Town boss Paul Lambert slammed the performance of referee Kevin Johnson following the Blues’ 1-0 defeat at Lincoln, the official having awarded the Imps a controversial second-half spot-kick, which was converted by League One top scorer Jorge Grant. Lambert was sent off for remonstrating after the final whistle, Jon Nolan having been dismissed for a wild lunge in injury time.

“I’ve never seen anything like that in a game of football in all my time,” Lambert said. “I think whoever is the head of the referees should look at that. That was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like that in all my time in football. But they walk away from here, no issues.

“There were two clear fouls on Teddy Bishop [in the run-up to the penalty incident], 100 per cent. Incredible decisions, they were flabbergasting. But he gets in his car and walks away.”

The Town players had shown their frustrations with referee Johnson, who coincidentally refereed the first FA Cup tie between the teams last season, in the first half and Lambert says it wasn’t just the penalty incident which irked him.

“He was dreadful. Dreadful,” he said. “As I’ve said before, it’s professional football. That standard’s not acceptable. We never lost to Lincoln, we lost to the guy in the middle, I don’t know his name. I just think he was dreadful.”

Asked if he regretted his remonstrations and whether his criticisms went over the top, he said: “No, because it was true. It’s true. We get criticised for a lot of things, so should they.”

Does he get to have his say? “I’ll be phoning Mike Jones [the national group director of the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited)], I’ll definitely be phoning him because that was unacceptable.”

Was there any explanation from the referee? “The usual, an absolutely brilliant sign of arrogance. It’s wrong.”

Quizzed on whether Toto Nsiala was rash to make the challenge that led to the penalty, the Town manager said: “I’ve just seen it again. Toto’s used his strength against a young kid [Brennan Johnson], he’s used his arm. It’s just body strength. If you’ve giving fouls for that, you’d give fouls everywhere on the pitch.”

Turning away from the controversies and reflecting on the performance overall, Lambert was delighted with his team’s display.

“Brilliant, really happy with them, really, really happy,” he said. “We’re a right good side, you saw Lincoln’s reaction, they’re jumping with joy when they beat us. And we’ve still got to play them again.

“The way we’re playing is really, really good. Unbelievable football. I’m really happy with how we’re dominating games, so let’s see what happens.”

He added: “You lose games, but the way we played today, I’m so happy for them, to play that way was great. One, two-touch football, the possession of the ball, we were creating chances, the dominance of the game, we can’t ask for any more.”

Did Town test the Lincoln keeper enough? “That was the only thing you’d say with that. We should have pulled the trigger earlier with a lot of things. We had some good chances to do it but that’ll come. They sat really deep against us. There’s a long, long way to go.”

Nolan was red-carded for a frustrated tackle on Harry Anderson and Lambert could understand how his midfielder was feeling.

“Yes, but I understand that because Nolo was done here on the halfway line,” he said. “I won’t be taken any disciplinary action against him because of the occasion and the frustration has boiled over but there’s only one person that caused that.”

Nolan will now face a three-match suspension - Lambert himself will be subject to a touchline ban - leaving the Blues short of midfield options with Cole Skuse (knee) and Flynn Downes (knee) out for a couple of months and Alan Judge having missed today’s match with a more minor niggle.

“Judgey we couldn’t take a risk with him because of his hamstring but hopefully he’ll be OK for Tuesday.,” Lambert said.

Brett McGavin could also come into contention for a place in matchday squads and perhaps a place on the bench.

The 20-year-old wasn’t allowed out on loan before the window closed just over a week ago due to the number of central midfield injuries.

“We couldn’t really with the numbers that are out,” Lambert said. “We just have to get on with it.”

Lambert was pleased with Jack Lankester’s performance, the forward having made his first league start since January 2019.

“He did really well, it’s the after effects going forward now with Jack, seeing how he feels and how he recovers but performance-wise he was excellent,” he added.

He was also delighted with Oli Hawkins’s display: “We lost but performance-wise, I can’t ask for any more. Brilliant, really good.”

Last season Town made an impressive start and hit the top of the table before falling to back-to-back defeats which led to a significant slump.

Asked whether he had a message to fans worried that history might repeat itself this season, Lambert insisted: “We’re playing totally different, we’re a totally different team from last year. The way they’re playing, the confidence they’ve got there, no problem.

“We’ll just keep playing, don’t change because the way we’re dominating games, you tend to find when you start to dominate the ball you win more games than not.”

Photo: TWTD

Essexnblue added 07:38 - Oct 25 Spanishblue, I have to agree 100% with you, its ok to have possession of the ball but if you do not make it count then its pointless. We have one pace, one plan and no plan B. Personally, I would bring Jackson back and play him up top with Hawkins and let him have a free role because with his pace we could play at a quicker tempo. Danny Cowley described him on Sky as being a game changer with his pace, no wonder Champ teams are chasing him, but when fit we dont play him. Another thing poor discipline as shown by the manager is only followed by the team and to actually admonish any blame for Nolans behaviour is unbelievable as it was rash, childish and the sign of ill discipline in the camp as shown by his manager. I get that we are all in this together attitude but I saw a stat where we now have the second worse disciplinary record in the division and thats playing low tempo football!

7

Northstandveteran added 08:06 - Oct 25 Appalling behaviour at the end of the game shown by Lambert. As after the Norwich trouncing, throwing a tantrum to try and prove his passion and distract attention away from the real issue's. That's not the Ipswich way Paul. Our history and tradition deserve more respect than that.
13

Saxonblue74 added 08:33 - Oct 25 Alfromcol, yes you're correct to say the only difference between the two teams was a dodgy tackle/pen decision. Isn't that exactly the problem though? The difference should be that we created more, made fewer errors, took our chances better etc etc, and ultimately scored more goals than the opposition! We need to be setting the standard, not be happy with simply keeping up with the top teams in what is quite frankly a very average league.

5

Michael101 added 08:36 - Oct 25 Well it looks like a fine will be coming your way paul.the powers that be don't like that type of thing ,true or not.
2

gixxeral added 08:44 - Oct 25 Lambert has made the point that referees are untouchable and do not have to account for their actions. They can make decisions that cost clubs and managers dearly and just ‘walk away'. He's right. Why can't he have his say about what he feels are terrible decisions without facing flack from all sides for doing it. He will get a huge fine as well just for speaking his mind and knew that but still went ahead and made his thoughts known. How many times do you hear a manager make a no comment statement about a decision a ref made because he would get in trouble for doing it. PL is passionate about his team and wears his heart on his sleeve. Good for you Paul.

-2

mib added 08:56 - Oct 25 Highgate blue . losing 2 games is a slump? get a grip.
-1

markytitfc added 08:59 - Oct 25 "He gets in his car and walks away" Has to be the really really really really best quote of the season!!
3

markytitfc added 09:03 - Oct 25 He added: “You lose games, but the way we played today, I'm so happy for them, to play that way was great. One, two-touch football, the possession of the ball, we were creating chances, the dominance of the game, we can't ask for any more" How about asking them to score, you are sounding like a stuck record!
3

budgieplucker added 11:16 - Oct 25 Ok so the referee wasn't great, is it much better further up in the Championship or Priemership? People will always complain about referees who have to make a split second decision at ground level often with bodies in the way so we have the benefit of higher camera angles and action replays, so unless we are advocating VAR throughout all the four leagues which I expect would be too expensive plus now so many complaining about VAR killing the game through lack of spontaneity, and that is a fair point. Has anyone ever tried being a linesman, it is almost physically impossible to give some offside decisions unless you are cross eyed which very few are, if you are looking towards a long ball being kicked near the halfway line or from the defending half to the attacking half, in a split second rotating your head to look across the field with the last defender, the defender could have stepped up a foot giving the impression that the attacker is offside when he actually wasn't when the ball was kicked. The officials are only human and if someone is moaning at you all the time on the pitch, you are less likely to get anything from them in 50/50 situations. Also don't think PL is doing himself any favours keep saying we are brilliant, we have to control and be able to change tempo during the match moving up gears, yes sometimes we can slow it down and play it around at the back especially if we have a two goal lead but yesterday we were for the most trying to play a slow pedestrian chess like game

4

herfie added 12:18 - Oct 25 Picking up on PL's “never seen anything like it etc” post-match comment/rant, makes me think that it's as well that he never encountered Clive Thomas. Those more long-in-the-tooth members will know both the name, and the FA Cup replay game that seals his place in the Club's role-call of infamy and pain inflicted by a referee! Had PL been at Stamford Bridge that night, he'd have been in a padded cell by the following morning! Happy days - but COYB!!

5

SickParrot added 12:26 - Oct 25 alfromcol : I didn't say it wasn't possible to win a game if we only had 2 shots on target, I said we won't win many like that!
0

vanmunt added 12:39 - Oct 25 The bloke is completely delusional.
4

BettyBlue added 15:20 - Oct 25 After Villa, Blackburn, Wolves, Stoke, and now Ipswich. Isn't it about time its agreed Lambert is a busted flush. After Ipswich I can't see him working again. What would you be paying for? Failure.....
3

tebbo28 added 15:44 - Oct 25 A soft penalty is still a penalty, no matter how "soft" people think it is. And giving them away in consecutive games is not good enough. Woolfy has to come back in Tuesday. Also, we go 1 down, yet Freddie stays on the bench?
3

Billericay12 added 16:21 - Oct 25 If we had won 2-1 I don't think he would be complaining about the penalty decision. He needs to spend more time and effort on coaching the group of players he has to move the ball quicker and move it forward more often. Yes, our possession stats are better than they used to be but some of it is meaningless possession. Under MM we used to lump it forward and fight for the 2nd ball but our possession stats were poor and it was poor to watch. At times now we are easier on the eye but need to be more incisive with more movement off the ball. For this to work we need centre halves that are comfortable on the ball and if Hawkins is to be first choice we need someone playing up with him. I know 4 3 3 seems to be the modern formation these days but Maybe time to try a 4 4 2 ???

1

TractorBeezer added 17:10 - Oct 25 Yes Bishop was fouled in the build up to the penalty. Toto may have used his strength in the box....the point is that he took an unnecessary risk. Nolan can't complain too much about his red Doubtful that PL will get any sympathy for his red. We only had 2 chances 1) )Edwards on the line 2) Ollies header which we as headed off the line. Lincoln were the better and more dangerous team. Roll on Tuesday. UTTBs

1

Ebantiass added 18:31 - Oct 25 Disappointing that we dont take a potshot more often. Lambert still has´nt convinced me of his quaility. COYBs
1

spanishblue added 19:27 - Oct 25 Runaround definitely a pen, but there was an absolutely terrible tackle on Bish or Lancaster just before scythed down from behind ,worthy of a booking but how ref or Lino never saw it I don't know one of the worst decisions I've seen. Personally I thought our slow build up of brilliant passing was a joke, and Hawkins looked disinterested.and Holys distribution was rubbish

0

coolhand added 08:40 - Oct 26 The manager has overstepped the mark and his comments are no help to the team or individual players. On football we were beaten and on chances we lost 3 - 1. If the manager is really , really pleased with the way they played then I think a major rethink is required. Ipswich have 5 good and talented players and a dozen average players good enough to reach the top 6 in this division. Is this going to happen?, I have serious doubts with the way the manager goes about his selections

1

Razor added 11:06 - Oct 26 Same old problem----no decent strikers and Hawkins is NOT the answer dsepite what Brenner Woolie and Alex Mathie may try and tell you!! Please play Bennetts and Mcguinnes------or did we get these players in just to warm the bench where they are of no use to anybody. And Holy was lucky it was not 2-0 after another one of his basic errors, he seems to have got off lightly.

0

blueboy1981 added 14:39 - Oct 26 Cut the cr#p Lambert - you lost to LINCOLN - and somewhat fortunate it wasn't 3-0. You've been found out again already, as to your capability and management style, you are another Manager who is a one trick pony, if Plan A doesn't work, there is no Plan B. The sooner Evans realises the above - the better, and does the obvious and indeed neessary.
0

eddiespearitt03 added 18:54 - Oct 26 Sorry folks. Just another under whelming season played out by Evans, Lambert, O Neill and the senior players that help out running "their" football club. The supporters can just sit back and witness season after season of little idea and little progress.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls